Spring type connector



Nov. 25, 1958 w. G. scHlNsKE 2,861,826

SPRING TYPE CONNECTOR Original Filed Oct. 1l. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l NNNNNW 20 5b 52 In ven fcgi William 5,56*??225/16 Nov. 25, 1958 w. G. scHlNsKE 2,861,826

SPRING TYPE CONNECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Oct. ll. 1954 In van for Z'zZZz'a/m Ccz'ms 3 Parler d? @rzer torneg United States Patent '0 SPRING TYPE CONNECTOR :Original application October 11, 1954, Serial'No. 461,391.

Divided and `this'application December 1, 1955, Serial No.;550,448

2 Claims. (Cl. 287-78) This is -a division 'of yapplication Serial No. 461,391, filedy October ll, 1954. Y

This invention is in the vfield of kelectric connectors for connecting the stripped ends yof two or more electric wlres.

A primary object of my invention is an electric connector of the coil type'whic'h connects the stripped ends of electric wires ywithout the use of anintegral cap.

yAnother object is a Aconnector ofthe above type which uses a simple, taperedcoil, which, after it is screwed around the stripped ends, can vbe covered by any suitable insulating material, such as tape or the like.

Another object is an electric connector in the form of -a tapered coil yhavinglits small end specially lformed to engagein a wrench which applies it.

Other objects will appear from time to time in the ensuing specification'anddrawings in which:

Figure lis a side sectional viewof my new electric -connector with Ia wrench, shown vpartly in section, for screwing the connector over the wires;

Figure 2'is an end view of the Wrenchshown in Figureil;

Figure v3 -is a side view of-a pair of electric wiresfjoined together by myy connector;

Figure 4 is a side viewzof the .coil for joining the wires together;

Figure .i5 is a view of one form of insulating cover usable around the joint;

Figure. 6 is amodied form of wrench;

Figure 7 is another form Aoffthewrench;

Figure ..8 is .a side `viewof the modification shown Vin Figure 7;

lFigu`re"9 is a detail view in section on an enlarged `scale of Va variant form of wrench;

Figure l0 is a side view `of a'yariantform v'of the'coil connector; and

Figurell is another variation of the coil connector.

In Figure 1 a r.pair'of electric leads are indicated generally at 10 and 12, which have their ends stripped of in sulationasat 14"an'd 16. A tapered coil 18 has a large end "20 with a diameter'suflcient toguide the stripped ends as they are inserted. -The -coil tapers to'a `small end 22 V`wi'tha diameter-lessthan thebundle of stripped ends. Thus as the coil is turned around or screwed onto the stripped ends, it `will tightly bind them together to form an :ecient electrical connect-ion. vThe wires 14.. and 16 can be made of copper, or the like, so as to be softer than the material of the coil, so that threads will be formed on the surface of the copper wires. The coil has a blunt end 24 at its small diameter, for reasons to be set forth hereinbelow.

A wrench 26 in Figure l is used to force the coil around the copper wires. The wrench 4is composed of a cylindrical body or tube 28 having .a socket 30 at each end. The diameter of the socket is generally the same as the diameter of the large end of the coil; however, this is by no means critical. The bore reduces in cross-section as at 32, so that the small end of the coil will be f. ICC

properly centered. An insert -34 ispositioned in the bore .and has an angular notch or groove 36 facing outwardly in the socket from a countersunk portion 37, the notch 36.conforming generally to the blunt end 24fof the coil. Thus the reduced diameter or shoulder 32 .will center and guide the small end of the coil and will ydirect the blunt end 24 to the notch 36. A handle structure 38 is provided between the ends of the'wrench extending outwardly from each-side and connected to a pin 40, which in addition to serving-as a connection for the handle, .also holds the-insert 34 in place. Another socket 42 is provided at the other end `of the wrench. In detail its structure is the sam-e as the socket 30. Its bore, however, has a different diameter and the various parts are of a different size, so that a different size coil can be accommodated.

The coil can first bepositione'd over the Istripped end of the wires and then the socket is inserted around it. Rotation of the-wrench by use ofthe handle will Screw the coil down onto the wires as it is prevented from slipping by the notch'36 contacting the blunt end 34. The coil will be forcefully rotated along the stripped ends until it connects the insulation, as shown in Figure 3, although rotation can be discontinued earlier. The wires 10 and 12 will be joined togetherin an efcient connection and can be covered by any suitable insulating means, such as the wrapperor cap shown in U. S. lPatent No. Re. 23,649 and indicated at :41,in Figure 5.

A variant form of wrench is .shown in Figure 6, which has :four Isockets at lthe ends'of a cross-like wrench body. In this case v'four connector coil sizes could be accommodated, and each insert 43 is vheld in place by a suitable pin or rivet 44.

It should be understoodthat'the inserts 34 can be Aremoved andreplaced injbothFigures l and 6, if they become excessively `worna'fter extensive use.

In Figure 7 I have shown `a further modification of the wrench which'isrcircular or disc-shaped, and is composed of two halves,46 and 48, connected together kby a suitable number of screws 50, or the like. The inner surfaces 'of these'halves are'suitably recessed to provide sockets 52 Vwhich yaccommodate inserts '54 in a'manner similar tothe ALFigure '6 modification. The inserts are held in place *by vsuitable pinsor'rivets-55.- Thesockets are different'sizes so that various coil connectors can be used with this wrench. y

In Figure 9 Ihave shown a variationfofthe-structure for `centering theesmallendof thecoil. V-The insertlin the wrench carries apin 56 whichfisbiased by a springSS and stoppedby a shoulder-60. VVThe pin projects fonto lthe socket and /h'as substantially 'the 'same diameter las the small 4end ofthe connecting' coil 18. y`1`he insert61 has anotch n62.for engagingthefbluntfend offthe coil-and is heldin place by a suitable'.set-zscrew=64ior'the-like. "The spring 58 is heldlin place by -a'threadedplug166 which 'has a socket j'67 to accept fa :wrench `and `a .vent opening 68.

The centering pinilts 'into :the .small end of :the .coil

guides the blunt-.,-endofxthe c'oilpintoffthe .notch162- -Asy the stripped ends ofthe wires arer drawnintorthencoil during rotation of the wrench, the pin can retract and will not prevent the wire from moving through the small end of the coil.

I have only referred to a rather uniformly tapered coil. However, the small end can be distended as at 70 in Figure l0. The notch in the insert to accommodate this distended end would be accordingly deepened. However, this structure insures a more positive contact between the wrench and the coil. I have found that a coil of this nature will add a great deal of life to the insert in the wrench.

In Figure 11 I have shown another coil form which has an expanded portion 72 at its small end. The diameter of this expanded portion is generally the same as the diameter of the large end. This expanded portion will therefore conform generally to the sides of the socket and will center the small end of the spring. The notch for engaging the blunt end 74 would have to be spaced outwardly from the center of the insert and would possibly be directly next to the outer wall of the socket.

The use, operation and function of my invention are as follows:

I provide an electric connector in the form of a tapered coil. The spring may be uniformly tapered or it may be belled out or trumpet shaped. In any event, the small end is relatively blunt and is positioned generally adjacent the next to last turn.

The coil, whatver its form, can be turned down over the stripped ends of the wires a few rotations and then inserted into the socket of the wrench. The notch in the insert in the wrench will engage the blunt end of the coil and will cause rotation of the coil as the wrench is being turned. When the coil is fully seated over the stripped ends of the wires, the wrench is withdrawn and the connection can be wrapped or enclosed in any type of suitable insulation.

The wrench is provided with an insert so that as the notch becomes worn through use, it can be replaced and renewed. I have only shown one notch. However, notches 180 apart could be provided so that the action of the wrench could be performed in a ratchet style.

The wrench in Figure 1 is usable with two sizes of coils. The forms of Figures 6 and 7 will accommodate four sizes. It should be understood that the wrench in Figure 7 could have more or less sockets as desired. In each wrench the insert is replaceable. The spring biased centering pin in Figure 9 could be used in the wrenches in Figures 1, 6 and 7. The spring forms in Figures 10 and 11 are, of course, usable in the various wrench forms; however, suitable modifications would have to be made to accommodate them.

Even though I have shown the socket wrench in Figures 1 and 9 as shorter than the coil, it should be understood that the wall of the wrench that defines the socket could etxend to the end of the coil and well beyond it, if desired. It should additionally be noted that the centering means, specifically the reduced diameter 32 in Figure 1 and the pin 56 in Figure 9, can be of such a size to assure engagement of the blunt end of the spring with the notch but at the same time it should let the small end of the spring expand somewhat when the stripped end of the wires enter the socket. For example, in Figure 1 if the confining wall binds the small end of the coil too tightly, the small end of the coil will not be able to expand when the stripped ends are forced into it. On the other hand, if the coning wall 32 is too large and the small end is loosely held, the blunt end 24 may not properly engage the notch 36.

It should also be understood that the insulated wires 10 and 12 could be covered with a thin insulation which could be easily penetrated and cut directly by the coil so that it would not be necessary rst to strip the insulation from the ends. By the same token, the coil could be coated with any suitable material which would not hamper its expansion and contraction.

Whereas I have shown the coil as tapered, it should be understood that the wrench could be constructed to accept a cylindrical coil if such was desired. I have shown only two insulated wires; however, any amount could be used, and the wrench would form an electrical connection with any number of wires. I have stated that the coil forms threads on the stripped ends of wires and this is the present procedure; however, it is not absolutely necessary.

If the ends of the wires project through the coil as in Figure 3, they could be clipped off to prevent their sharp edges from damaging the covering means such as the cap in Figure 5, this, of course, is optional.

In each case the inserts could be heat treated in an appropriate manner for a longer life, if desired.

It should be noted that spring will expand as the stripped end of the wires enter the small end. The portion of the tool surrounding the small end should have enough play so that a large number of combination of wires can be inserted without the small end of the spring binding.

It should also be noted that by driving the spring at the small end, an unwinding force is being applied to it, this tends to expand the size of the spring so that when the wrench is removed, the spring tends to return to its normal tightly coiled condition and will more firmly hold the stripped end of the Wires. The unwinding force applied to the spring also makes it easier for the spring to be turned down over the wires as the opening at the small end is expanded.

Whereas I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention and several modifications, it should l be understood that numerous modifications, alterations,

' contact with its adjacent turns, a portion of the end of the wire in the last turn at the small end being axially distending and in spaced relation to the adjacent turn for a substantial peripheral extent to aid in turning the coil onto the stripped ends of the wires.

2. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that a substantial peripheral portion of the last turn at the small end of the'coil is expanded to the general diameter of the large end of the coil.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,451,936 Young Apr. 17, 1923 1,625,477 Leahy Apr. 19, 1927 2,113,702 McKesson Apr. 12, 1938 2,250,042 Sundt et al. Iuly 22, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS 657,405 Great Britain Sept. 19, 1951 

